Learning How to Be Money Smart
by Sarah CousineauWorried about paying bills? Wondering how you're going to pay for college? Don't know your credit score? Trying to figure out how much money you'll need when a new baby arrives? Trying to save for the future? Not sure why you have too much month at the end of your money?

Expectant moms at Rodgers Health Center, as well as Green Works students at Mind Drive and East High School talked about, worked through and learned the answers to these questions in sessions taught by Central Bank of Kansas City in early November. Material covered information and activities on spending plans, budgeting, credit and saving for the future.[FULL STORY]

Central Bank Receives $80 million NMTC Allocation
Rebuilding Communitiesby Sarah CousineauCentral Bank of Kansas City (CBKC) is proud to announce another New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation from the U.S. Treasury's Community Development Financial Institution's(CDFI) Fund. This award marks the seventh successful NMTC award for CBKC and our affiliates, with a total of $351 million in allocation since our first award in 2007. The NMTC program allows CBKC to direct capital to underserved communities through financing high-impact, mission-focused projects.
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Budgeting Tips for Holiday Gift-Giving
The best ways to keep your personal finances in check this seasonIt's no secret that the holiday season costs people a large chunk of money, what with all the spending on decorating, traveling, meal planning and more. One of the biggest sources of spending is gift-giving. The following are five tips for staying in budget:[FULL STORY]

5 DIY Green Beauty Swaps
Make your beauty routine greener with these DIY hacksGoing green has many benefits, from a lower impact on the environment to a healthier impact on your wellbeing. Perhaps you've already ditched the chemical cleaners in favor of more natural options, but if you're still using mainstream beauty products, you could be negatively affecting your health. [FULL STORY]

Profit Margin Basics
Understanding gross and net profit marginsProfit isn't the only valuable metric for evaluating and predicting the current and future success of your business, but it is undoubtedly one of the most important concepts for entrepreneurs to master. Calculating your profit margins and keeping track of any changes can help you spot potential problems and fine-tune your operations throughout the year, which can make it easier to maximize your revenue.[FULL STORY]

Disclaimer - All content contained in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon to make any financial, accounting, tax, legal or other related decisions.Each person must consider his or her objectives, risk tolerances and level of comfort when making financial decisions and should consult a competent professional advisor prior to making any such decisions. Any opinions expressed through the content in this newsletter are the opinions of the particular author only. This is an advertisement.